Subjects were randomly chosen to see either a VR video or a static before and after picture. The VR video, to the right, was seen through an Oculus Go headset, which allowed the subjects to move around and experience surround sound. Unfortunately the experience is not as interesting on a computer monitor, but you can still use your mouse to “look around”.

Here is the static before and after picture. This is more in line with what a traditional contingent valuation survey would show a subject.

Following their randomly chosen visual, subjects filled out a survey and indicated whether they would pay a randomly chosen annual tax to clean up the lake. To view the survey, click here.

Previous research in economics that used virtual reality had relied on computer generated images presented on computer screens, such as in Batemen et al. (2009) and Matthews et al. (2017). My research builds on these excellent papers by taking advantage of low cost, high quality VR headsets like Oculus Go to provide a true virtual reality experience to subjects.

References

I.J. Bateman, B.H. Day, A.P. Jones, and S. Jude. Reducing gain-loss asymmetry: a virtual reality choice experiment valuing land use change. Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, 58(1): 106-118, 2009

Y. Matthews, R. Scarpa, and D. Marsh. Using virtual environments to improve the realism of choice experiments: A case study about coastal erosion management. Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, 81: 193-208